Maxine Hupy: Dance Diva

Story Tools

Ever wonder about those strange designations we use throughout Northwestern to identify alumni of the various schools of the University? See the complete list.

Maxine Hupy is on her toes.

When Maxine Hupy, at age 3, saw her first dance show, she was so excited she ran to the front of the theater and put her chin on the stage to watch. She’s wanted to become a dancer since that moment. She landed her first major gig at 13, becoming the youngest performer to play Marie in the Milwaukee Ballet’s Nutcracker. Hupy (C11), who performed with the Graffiti Dancers and Boomshaka and in the Waa-Mu Show at Northwestern, recently wrapped up a seven-week gig in the Cee Lo Green Is Loberace Las Vegas show. She loved performing with Green, who, she says, has unbounded energy and is so over the top. “The show was like a concert and a party at the same time, four nights a week,” Hupy says. At every show Green told the audience that he knows he was born to sing. Hupy says that was her favorite moment. “That got me every time,” she says. “That’s exactly how I feel — I know I’m supposed to be dancing.” She plans to continue to dance during a summer tour with Green to Singapore and throughout Europe. Hupy was also recently booked to perform in a music video for Disney star Hayley Kiyoko. She was also featured in a Bollywood-inspired fitness DVD for the fitness company Doonya. The video was featured on the Today Show. Hupy also helped train cheerleaders for the NFL Pro Bowl by demonstrating dances.